O
ropharyngeal cancer is caused by tobacco and
al-cohol, but its increasing incidence is attributed to
infection by human papillomavirus (HPV). It is usually
diagnosed at advanced stage, with dismal prognosis and
significant loads to health systems.
Oropharyngeal cancer:
an emergent disease?
Martín Granados-García, MD, MSc.
(1)(1) Departamento de Tumores de Cabeza y Cuello, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología. Ciudad de México, México.
Received on: July 3, 2015 • Accepted on: November 4, 2016
Corresponding author: Martín Granados García. National Cancer Institute. San Fernando 22, col. Sección XVI. 14080 Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, México. Email: martingranadosmx@gmail.com
Granados-García M.
Cáncer de orofaringe: ¿una enfermedad emergente? Salud Publica Mex 2016;58:285-290.
Resumen
El cáncer de orofarínge recientemente ha incrementado su
incidencia, por lo que ha atraído la atención pública. Como
en otras neoplasias malignas de las vías aerodigestivas
supe-riores se atribuye a los efectos carcinogénicos del tabaco y
alcohol, sin embargo evidencia reciente señala un incremento
substancial atribuible a los efectos del virus del papiloma
humano. Mucho se ha avanzado en relación a los
conocimien-tos de los mecanismos moleculares y genéticos implicados
en la génesis y progresión de estas neoplasias, lo que ha
conducido al desarrollo de nuevas y prometedoras terapias,
mas especificas y menos tóxicas, que han prolongado la vida
y mejorado su calidad, pero no han logrado incrementar
significativamente la proporción de pacientes curados. Si se
desea abatir la mortalidad por estas neoplasias es necesario
emprender medidas de salud publica dirigidas a su prevención
y diagnóstico temprano.
Palabras clave: cáncer de cabeza y cuello; cáncer de vías
aerodigestivas; cáncer de orofaringe; tabaco; alcohol; virus
del papiloma humano
Granados-García M. Oropharyngeal cancer: an emergent disease? Salud Publica Mex 2016;58:285-290.
Abstract
Oropharyngeal cancer incidence has recently increased,
thereby attracting public attention. Akin to other
malignan-cies of the upper aerodigestive tract, it has been attributed to
the carcinogenic effects of tobacco and alcohol use. However,
recent evidence shows that a substantial increase in the
disease is attributable to the effects of human papillomavirus
(HPV). Marked progress has been made in relation to the
knowledge of molecular and genetic mechanisms involved
in the genesis and progression of these cancers. This has
led to the development of new and promising therapies of
a more specific and less toxic nature that have prolonged
life and improved its quality. However, these therapies have
failed to significantly increase the proportion of patients who
are cured. To decrease the mortality associated with these
neoplasms, it is necessary to adopt public health measures
aimed at prevention and early diagnosis.
Keywords: head and neck cancer; cancer of the
aerodiges-tive tract; oropharyngeal cancer; tobacco; alcohol; human
papillomavirus
Epidemiology
100 000 population and a mortality rate of 0.3/100 000).
1The ratio between men and women is 3-5:1, and the
maximum frequency occurs between 50 and 70
years-old.
2,3According to the Union for International Cancer
Control (UICC), five-year survival rate by stages is as
follows: stage I: 56.8-61.7%; stage II, 44.7-48.8%; stage III,
34.1-38.9%; and stage IV, 25.4-28.2% (CI: 95%).
4In Mexico, oropharyngeal cancer represents less
than 10% of squamous cell carcinomas of the upper
aerodigestive tract (SCC-UADT), whereby oral and
la-ryngeal cancers make up 89% of these cases. However,
in the US, Canada, Australia and Japan, an increase in
its incidence has been observed, particularly among
young women
5who do not smoke or drink but have
more sexual partners and higher frequency of oral sex.
6Risk factors
Up to 90% of cases are caused by tobacco and alcohol
use, and the magnitude of the risk is proportional to
the intensity of exposure; furthermore, simultaneous
exposure has a synergistic effect, which has a relative
risk (RR) higher than 40.
7-9Based on the authors’
experi-ence, 89% of men smoke, but only 22% of women do so;
therefore, other factors must be involved. The evidence
suggests a causal role of HPV 16,
10,11but its contribution
in our country has not been documented. We undertook
a case-control study to document the incidence of HPV
16, 18 and 56 in the oral cavity and found a frequency
of 5% in 80 cases and 2.5% in 320 controls. This study
was limited to the mouth given the relative rarity of
oropharyngeal cancer, and similar observations of more
cases of oral cavity cancers at early ages and in
non-smoking women (78% were non-non-smoking) that makes
us suspect the causal role of HPV in oral cavity cancer.
However, current figures do not support our
presump-tion.
12Nevertheless, we maintain that the incidence will
increase because of the increasing frequency of
smok-ing among young people
13and possible changes in the
sexual behavior of the population. Although the HPV
vaccine prevents cervical cancer precursor lesions, the
efficacy of preventing SCC of the UADT is unknown.
14Screening
Even countries with a high prevalence and mortality do
not rely on screening programs; however, it is good
clini-cal practice to explore the oral cavity, oropharynx and
neck in each physical examination, particularly among
smokers, because early diagnosis reduces mortality.
15,16Molecular pathogenesis
Unlimited cell replication is acquired by the
inactiva-tion of p16, P53 mutainactiva-tions and increased telomerase
activity, which prevents stress-induced senescence and
apoptosis in response to DNA damage.
17,18P16 prevents
the binding of activating cyclins that drive the cell cycle.
Mitogen stimulation results in the phosphorylation and
inactivation of pRb, which permits DNA synthesis.
19RB1 mutations are rare, but they imply proliferative
advantages.
20-22In contrast, 50% of ECs have P53 mutations that
normally arrest the cell cycle after damage occurs to the
DNA and trigger apoptosis after irreparable damage.
The mutations that inactivate p53 are associated with
genomic instability, tumor progression and deteriorated
prognosis.
23P53 is also inactivated by the E6 protein of
HPV 16 and HVP 18.
24,25EGFR overexpression occurs in 80-90% of cases and
correlates with increased tumor volume, decreased
sen-sitivity to radiation and relapse. Constitutive activation
causes autocrine stimulation through the co-expression
of EGFR and TGFa.
26,27EGFR activates signaling
pathways that contribute to growth, angiogenesis and
metastatic potential.
28Pattern of spread
EC of the oropharynx invades and destroys adjacent
structures such as the jaw and skull base. Concurrently,
they gain access to regional lymph nodes and
lymphat-ics, where they form new malignant clones.
29,30Distant
metastases are rare (15-20%),
31but most affected organs
are the lungs, liver and bone.
32Field carcinogenesis
Tobacco and alcohol, the most common causes of
oro-pharyngeal cancer, may affect extensive areas of mucous
membranes. These areas often persist after surgery and
can lead to the emergence of second primaries or local
relapse.
33Second primaries in patients occur at a rate of 3 to
7% per year.
34In our experience, second primaries
ap-pear most often in the skin (43%), followed by the oral
cavity and lungs (22% each). Tumors associated with
HPV infection appear to be associated with a low risk
of second primaries.
35The risk of developing multiple
Clinical manifestations, diagnosis
and evaluation
Early oropharyngeal tumors are often asymptomatic,
but advanced tumors produce local pain, ear ache,
cervical lymphadenopathy, trismus, odynophagia,
dys-phagia, hemorrhage, decreased mobility of the tongue
and fistula formation. Cervical lymphadenopathy is
common.
Diagnosis should be established early because of
the accessibility of examination. The diagnosis is made
by a histopathological study. The studies should also
assess nutritional status and concurrent diseases, both
of which are common in the affected population.
37,38Prognostic factors
Increased risk of relapse and poorer survival are
as-sociated with the presence of lymph node metastases,
increase of number and size, extracapsular invasion
and localization in distant levels.
39Capsular rupture
doubles the risk of local and distant relapse and triples
the risk of regional recurrence. In addition, the survival
rate prognosis deteriorates to 50% compared to positive
nodes without capsular rupture.
40Other factors include
tumor size growth rate, poor differentiation, perineural
spread, vascular and lymphatic embolism, infiltrating
tumor and involved surgical margins.
41Treatment
In absence of metastasis, the objective is to cure. In
un-resectable and metastatic tumors, which are the most
common, the aim is to prolong survival maintaining
quality of life.
Early tumors
Local control with radiotherapy or surgery exceeds
80%.
42Surgery is excellent when there is low local
inva-siveness,
43but radiation therapy is prefered in patients
with HPV infection because it results in better response
and less functional impact.
Moderately advanced or resectable tumors
These tumors are treated with surgery and adjuvant
treatment, but initial chemotherapy and radiotherapy is
a good option if the tumor is caused by HPV
44because
it produces similar oncological results than
conserva-tion surgery
45and possibly a better quality of life.
46If
partial response occurs, rescue surgery is added.
47Inten-sity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is associated
with less immediate and late toxicity.
48,49However, its
availability is limited in our country. Surgical resection
requires special approaches
50,51and causes considerable
effects that limit the social and work performance of
the patients.
Treatment of regional lymph nodes
Patients without lymph node metastases still require
dissection or elective neck radiotherapy, which does
not improve survival, but it can improve disease-free
survival, prevent reoperations, facilitate monitoring
and guide the use of adjuvant therapy. Both radiation
and elective neck achieve control in more than 90% of
cases.
52,53N1 and N2 diseases are usually treated with surgery
or combinations of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
N3 adenopathies are unresectable and are treated with
palliative concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
Surgical reconstruction of defects
Reconstruction is performed with grafts, pedicled flaps
or surgical microanastomozed.
54-57With experienced
teams, microanatomozed flaps are highly safe, but the
elderly and smokers often have medical and surgical
complications.
58Adjuvant treatment
Even with complete resection, 10% of patients relapse
with distant metastasis, 15-20% of patients relapse with
secondary primaries, and up to 60% of patients develop
locoregional recurrence. Postoperative chemotherapy
with cisplatin and concurrent radiation therapy is
recommended for patients with a high risk of relapse
because due positive margins, extracapsular extension,
perineural spread, vascular and lymphatic embolism or
positive lymph nodes in levels V and IV. This treatment
is associated with a 13% reduction in the absolute risk
of relapse but is also associated with severe mucositis.
59Toxicity is higher than that observed exclusively with
radiation.
60,61Very advanced or unresectable tumors
Unresectable carcinomas invade the pterygoid muscles,
pterygoid plates, lateral wall of the nasopharynx,
hy-popharynx, skull base or carotid sheath. These patients
can achieve prolonged palliation with platinum-based
chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy,
64but other
agents have been used.
65,66If the adenopathies become resectable, a
comple-mentary neck dissection is performed.
67However,
patients with complete response through CT-PET and
biopsy guided by US can be observed.
68These strategies
are toxic, and survival advantages disappear in adults
over 70 years old.
69Induction chemotherapy prior to
chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy has not
been associated with superior results.
70In total, 90% of the SCC-UADT overexpress EGFR.
A controlled study of cetuximab, an anti-EGFR antibody,
in combination with radiation therapy for first-line
treatment of advanced and unresectable carcinomas,
demonstrated better DFS and overall survival (OS) in
the experimental arm without increasing toxicity.
71Ce-tuximab increases the 5-year progression-free survival
and OS rate from 36.4 to 45.6%.
72Therefore,
cetuximab-radiotherapy might be an option among patients over
70 or those unfit for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
73Recurrent disease
Frequent relapse is related to poor prognosis, but some
patients may benefit from surgery.
74Patients with
dis-tant metastasis or unresectable relapses require
pallia-tive treatment. Cetuximab has been tested in patients
who failed platinum-based chemotherapy. It improves
response and progression-free survival.
75It has also
been used with first-line platinum chemotherapy in
patients with recurrent and metastatic carcinomas. OS
is higher compared to chemotherapy alone.
76Six cycles
of cetuximab followed by weekly cetuximab prolongs
survival compared to chemotherapy alone, with a
favor-able toxicity profile.
77Monitoring and prognosis
Largest proportion of relapses (80%) occurs in the first
two years. Each visit includes a complete examination,
and imaging studies are recommended in case of
sus-pected relapse.
Conclusions
The unincidence of oropharyngeal cancer will increase,
and it is unlikely that it will occur in early stages.
Sig-nificant efforts to reduce the mortality rate are required,
such as controlling smoking and HPV infection, because
mortality has not been reduced in spite of therapeutic
advances.
Declaration of conflict of interests. The author declares not to have conflict of interests.
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